Improvement in abdominal supporters



A. T. KIRK.-

lmprovement in Abdominal-Supporter.

No, 127,352, P atented May 28,1872.

Wifrzesses, Inlleni'orj UNITED, STATES PATENT QFFICE. I

A. 'l. KIRK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,352, dated May 28,1872.

To all whom may it concern:

Be it known that I, A. T. KIRK, of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Abdominal and LumbarSupporter; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawingwhich forms a portion of this specification, of which- Figure 1 is afront view, Fig. 2 a rear view, and Fig. 3 a side view.

The abdominal support a may be constructed of any suitable materialpossessing the requisite degree of strength, elasticity, andflexibility; but I prefer to have it constructed of a light and somewhatopen elastic material. The abdominal support is combined with the lumbarsupports 11 b by means of the separated elastic straps 0 0 c, or othersuitable narrow straps or bands, which must be of such a length as toallow the said lumbar supports to rest upon the loins, and render themost efficient support to the lumbar region of the body without pressinginjuriously upon the spine. Pieces of narrow webbing d d are secured tothe upper and lower angles of the outer edges of the lumbar supports bb, which pieces are united to each other at the distance of six or seveninches or upward from said supports, where they are united to singlenarrow webbing or elastic bands 0 e, which are of sufficient length topass around the body of the wearer of the supporter. Said bands may beunited to each other in front of the wearer of the supporter by means ofa buckle or any other suitable fastening device.

In adjusting the supporter to the body of the wearer one of thefastening bands e is passed between the branches d cl of the otherfastening band, as represented in Fig. 2. Buttons are secured near tothe ends of the lower edge of the abdominal support'a, and also to thelower edge of each of the lumbar supports 1) b, which buttons receivethe elastic straps g 9, during the monthly periods that such additionalsupports may berequired.

It will be perceived that the shape and ar rangement of the respectiveparts of my improved. abdominal and lumbar supporter is such that itgives an efficient and self-adjusting elastic support to the abdomen andto the lumbar regions of the body, without causing any pressure at otherpoints that will interfere with the free circulation of the blood, orthat will produce discomfort from local accumulations of heat when usedin hot climates. Sufferers at the south have already tested the goodqualities of my invention, and have emphatically named it the ComfortSupporter.

I claim as my invention- My improved abdominal and lumbar sup porter,said supporter being produced by combining the abdominal support a withthe lumbar supports b I) by means of the narrow separated straps c c c,and the combination of the latter supports with the branched bands at de, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimonythat the aforegoing is a true and exact specification of myimproved abdominal supporter, I hereunto subscribe my name.

A. T. KIRK.

Vtitnesses:

J AS. A. MARSHALL,

J. WINSHIP.

